Thimphu:
As always, all eyes are on movement on the Indo-Pak front at the Southeast Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Thimphu.
Arriving ahead of the summit, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna didn't rule out a meeting between the two Prime Ministers. This will be their second meeting this month, and there is hope it will be more substantial than the handshake in Washington on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in early April.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to NDTV.
Q: Will there be an India-Pakistan meeting when both PMs are in the same place?
A: I think it is for the Indian leadership to declare what it wants. Pakistan has never shied from engagement with India. We have consistently held the view that dialogue is the only way way forward. Pakistan has always been keen for meaningful, sustainable engagement. It seems that the political environment within India is compelling PM Singh not to move in the direction that his heart wants to move in. I think he is positive, he is a visionary, he wants to move on, but iI think he is not getting, in my view, the support that should be given to him - both within his party and from the Opposition.
Q: We saw Pakistan hand over a dossier over the weekend. But these have been going back and forth. Do you think Pakistan making a request for access to Qasab is a sign of some movement from your side?
A: Pakistan is serious. Pakistan wants to move on. Pakistan recognizes that terrorism is a global regional challenge. We are victims of terrorism. People in India are not in tune with Pakistan's changed circumstances. We have a democracy today, we have a changed political opinion. Public opinion has moved dramatically against terrorism and extremism. Look at the consensus that has emerged within Pakistan. You are not being able to seize the opportunity.
Q: Do you think there has been progress on the Mumbai investigations on the Pakistan side?
A: Believe you me Pakistan is serious; Pakistan has moved, it wants to move. But you understand there is a process, a legal process. We have to live within that process, but we would like to take this trial to its logical conclusion. The fact that we have been responding to dossiers, asking for more information, is in fact a reflection of our intention to move on.
Q: Have you heard back from the Indian side or is it too soon?
A: I think for the first time the way we have exchanged information, I look at it positively. This is unprecedented and has never happened before - the way we have helped each other trying to unearth and to find leads that take us to the logical conclusion.
Q: But on the question of resuming dialogue, the deadlock still remains over this issue where the two don't see eye to eye on the resumption.
A: I think india is stuck in a groove . Undoubtedly what happened in Mumbai was tragic, there are no two opinions on that. But we have had several Mumbais in pakistan. By disengaging with Pakistan who are you helping? You are following the agenda of terrorists, you are playing to their tune.
Q: So if the two leaders meet, can one expect any movement forward? We saw the handshake in Washington earlier this month, can we expect something more substantial?
A: I think the people of South Asia need more than a handshake. They need in my view a substantial, sustained meaningful engagement.
Q: So you think the Indian side needs to be more forthcoming if they meet tomorrow?
A: Well if there is a meeting that does take place - I am not sure, haven't heard anything official - I would want that meeting to be substantial, result oriented, and forward looking, It should be charting a way forward, not just reiterating same positions - not like what happened in February when the Foreign Secretaries met. That is not going to help. We have to think out of the box, we have to look forward because challenges facing the region are huge - challenges of climate, poverty, illiteracy, etc. Can't we work together? Can't we pool in our resources to fight terrorism? I think it is a lost opportunity.
Read: Full interview with Pakistan Foreign Minister